The district of Styx adjoins Papanui on the south and Belfast on the north. It is named after the river Styx, which crosses the main north road five miles from Christchurch, though the journey by rail is seven miles from the city to the Styx railway station. Some of the richest and most fertile land in New Zealand lies along the banks of the Styx. The district is closely settled, and well cultivated, and the crops are chiefly of onions, potatoes, and oats for horse feed. A considerable amount of fruit is also grown in the district. The Styx Apple Company has a very fine orchard of thirty-six acres, thirty-four of which are taken up with full bearing apple and pear trees, the first of which were planted by Mr. G. S. Hickman, as early as 1877. There is a very fine specially constructed brick cool store at the orchard, capable of holding ten thousand cases; also a cider house with all the necessary plant for extracting the juice and manufacturing cider. Towards the sea the soil becomes lighter, and is chiefly used for grazing purposes. Dairy farms are numerous, but there are also some sheep farms.